Sacred Endurance: ὑποφέρω (Strong’s G5297: hupophero) Strengthens Through Divine Grace

Strong’s G5297: From hupo (under) and phero (to bear), hupophero means to bear up under, endure, or sustain. In NT usage, it describes the believer’s capacity to endure trials with divine enablement, particularly emphasizing God’s faithfulness in providing strength to bear every trial.

U- Unveiling the Word

The verb ὑποφέρω (hupophero) powerfully expresses the concept of bearing up under pressure or trials. As a compound word joining “under” with “to bear,” it paints a picture of sustaining a weight or burden from beneath. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts of spiritual endurance and God’s faithfulness to sustain His people through trials. Paul uses it to assure believers that God enables them to bear whatever challenges they face, while Peter employs it to describe patient endurance under unjust suffering. Early church fathers frequently referenced this word when encouraging believers facing persecution, emphasizing God’s faithful provision of strength. Today, it continues to remind believers that endurance isn’t merely about human willpower but about divine enablement.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑποφέρω, hupophero, hoo-po-FEH-ro
• Detailed Pronunciation: hoó (as in “who”) – po (as in “post”) – FEH (as in “fair”) – ro (as in “row”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• ὑπό (hupo) – prefix meaning “under”
• φέρω (phero) – root verb meaning “to bear, carry”
  The combination creates the meaning of bearing up under something.

D – Defining Meanings

• To bear up under
• To endure patiently
• To sustain a burden

For compound words:
The prefix ὑπό (under) combined with φέρω (bear) creates the image of supporting or carrying a weight from underneath, emphasizing sustained endurance.

Translation Options:

• “bear up under” – Most literal, emphasizing the supporting aspect
• “endure” – Captures the perseverance aspect
• “sustain” – Emphasizes the continuous nature of the action

E – Exploring Similar Words

• περιφέρω (periphero, pe-ree-FEH-ro) – to carry around
  See G4064
• διαφέρω (diaphero, dee-a-FEH-ro) – to carry through, differ
  See G1308
• ἀναφέρω (anaphero, an-a-FEH-ro) – to carry up, offer up
  See G399

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

For this verb:

• Tense: Present, Future, Aorist
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Infinitive
• Person: First, Second, Third
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Aspect: Continuous (Present), Punctiliar (Aorist)

Example forms:

• ὑποφέρω – I bear up under (Present Active Indicative)
• ὑποίσω – I will bear up under (Future Active Indicative)
• ὑπήνεγκα – I bore up under (Aorist Active Indicative)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexical study reveals ὑποφέρω’s rich theological implications. BDAG emphasizes its connection to divine enablement in endurance. Thayer’s highlights its use in contexts of patient suffering. LSJ documents its classical usage for bearing physical burdens. Vine’s notes its distinction from mere passive suffering, emphasizing active endurance. Moulton and Milligan cite papyri showing its use in legal contexts for bearing responsibilities. Strong’s emphasizes the compound nature suggesting supportive endurance, while LEH notes its Septuagint usage for faithful perseverance. The collective evidence points to a term expressing divinely enabled endurance rather than mere human fortitude.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [ὑποφέρω] it.”

Additional References:
2 Timothy 3:11, 1 Peter 2:19

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The word ὑποφέρω beautifully captures the reality of divine enablement in Christian endurance. It reminds us that bearing up under trials isn’t about mustering human strength but about receiving God’s sustaining grace. This word proclaims the good news of King Jesus by assuring believers that He not only saves us but also sustains us through every trial. It teaches that our ability to endure comes from His faithfulness, not our fortitude, making every trial an opportunity to experience His supporting presence.

D – Did You Know?

1. This word appears in ancient athletic contexts describing athletes bearing up under intense training.
2. Early Christian martyrs often quoted 1 Corinthians 10:13 using this word to encourage others facing persecution.
3. The word was used in ancient construction to describe support columns bearing the weight of buildings.

Strong’s G5297: From hupo (under) and phero (to bear), hupophero means to bear up under, endure, or sustain. In NT usage, it describes the believer’s capacity to endure trials with divine enablement, particularly emphasizing God’s faithfulness in providing strength to bear every trial.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: endurance, trials, perseverance, divine-enablement, suffering, patience, sustaining-grace, faithfulness, testing, persecution, spiritual-strength, divine-support​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​